The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The students from Holy Name Preschool sang a modified version of, “This Land is Your Land” for the 56th annual National Day of Prayer on the courthouse lawn Thursday.

Instead of singing, “From the redwood forest, to the Gulf Stream waters,” they sang, “From the redwood forest, to the Yampa River,” while Father Ernest Bayer of Holy Name Catholic Church played guitar.

There was a group of more than 30 people gathered under the rippling flags of the Routt County Courthouse on the sunny and windy National Day of Prayer. The purpose of the day was to bring people of all faiths together to specifically pray this year for education, the church, government, family, military and the media.

Betsy Johnston, secretary for Holy Name Catholic Church, regarded the day as a chance to think about what prayer can do for all of the trials our country is facing.

“I will be praying for all our armed services and for the people who are in the Middle East that live there,” she said. “I love how all the different churches get together to work on ecumenical things. It is crucial for Steamboat because they compliment each other.”

Lisa-Marie Schmitz, youth minister for Holy Name, appreciated the rare opportunity to gather worshippers of all denominations.

“We tend to stay in our small communities and parishes. It’s a rare opportunity to do this,” she said. “And it’s neat that we can pray as a nation, especially now that prayer is not as prevalent as it once was in the nation.”

After hearing the day’s proclamations and prayers, the microphone was opened up to members of the public to recite their own prayers. A few community members stepped up to the mic.

The preschool students stole the stage with their musical act and afterwards, recited the prayer they say every day before they eat lunch.

“Some of them are over adamant about (not) eating lunch until they say their prayer,” said Holy Name Preschool Director Betsy Taylor. “And they will remind the teachers to say it.”

It only took Thursday morning for the students of Holy Name Preschool to get ready for their singing engagement.

“I think they were excited because they remember the balloons and eating lunch on the lawn is fun,” Taylor said.

— To reach Allison Plean, call 871-4204

or e-mail aplean@steamboatpilot.com